Lavender suddenly looks sick - Ask Extension
My lavender plants looked great a week ago. What happened?
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Lavender suddenly looks sick #792192
Asked May 23, 2022, 11:38 AM EDT
My lavender plants looked great a week ago. What happened?
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello and thank you for your question.
Your lavender is likely suffering from the wild weather we've had lately. A rollercoaster of temperatures and so, so, so, so much rain. Lavender is a Mediterranean subshrub that prefers full sun and rocky or sandy soil that drains very well. Those dead branches could have been damaged over the winter, but the yellow leaves leads me to think it is overwatering related.
Poorly drained soil, water that pools due to a slope, or plants being overwatered (whether by hand or sky) can cause irreversible damage to Mediterranean herbs. Excess water reduces the available oxygen in the soil, which damages fine roots and renders the plant unable to take up water. Overwatered plants show similar symptoms as plants with root rot, crown rot, or drought stress. The primary symptom of excess moisture is wilting or yellowing of lower and inner leaves. If the excess water continues, plants may experience symptoms such as leaf scorch, leaf drop, branch and/or plant death.
All that being said, you can't do a thing about the weather! If your soil is heavy and retains water, perhaps amending it with some small gravel or coarse contractor's grade sand and compost would alleviate the drainage issue. A soil test can tell you your pH and how to adjust it (if necessary) as well. Note: lavender prefers lean soil, so no fertilizer is necessary and apply compost lightly.
As for the aesthetics of your plant, you can prune out the dead and oldest growth now. Once the new growth has finished blooming, it can be deadheaded and shaped to encourage additional growth and blooms. This can be done several times a season but do not prune after mid-August so the new growth can harden off before winter.
I hope this is helpful. Best wishes for your lavender to recover once we get out of this wet trend! Let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Your lavender is likely suffering from the wild weather we've had lately. A rollercoaster of temperatures and so, so, so, so much rain. Lavender is a Mediterranean subshrub that prefers full sun and rocky or sandy soil that drains very well. Those dead branches could have been damaged over the winter, but the yellow leaves leads me to think it is overwatering related.
Poorly drained soil, water that pools due to a slope, or plants being overwatered (whether by hand or sky) can cause irreversible damage to Mediterranean herbs. Excess water reduces the available oxygen in the soil, which damages fine roots and renders the plant unable to take up water. Overwatered plants show similar symptoms as plants with root rot, crown rot, or drought stress. The primary symptom of excess moisture is wilting or yellowing of lower and inner leaves. If the excess water continues, plants may experience symptoms such as leaf scorch, leaf drop, branch and/or plant death.
All that being said, you can't do a thing about the weather! If your soil is heavy and retains water, perhaps amending it with some small gravel or coarse contractor's grade sand and compost would alleviate the drainage issue. A soil test can tell you your pH and how to adjust it (if necessary) as well. Note: lavender prefers lean soil, so no fertilizer is necessary and apply compost lightly.
As for the aesthetics of your plant, you can prune out the dead and oldest growth now. Once the new growth has finished blooming, it can be deadheaded and shaped to encourage additional growth and blooms. This can be done several times a season but do not prune after mid-August so the new growth can harden off before winter.
I hope this is helpful. Best wishes for your lavender to recover once we get out of this wet trend! Let us know if we can be of further assistance.
